If you’ve been following One Punch Man, you probably know Amai Mask (also called Sweet Mask) as the gorgeous, popular idol hero who sits at the top of A-Class. He’s got the looks, the fame, and a brutal sense of justice. But here’s the kicker—underneath that perfect exterior, he’s actually a monster.

The Real Story: From Ugly Man to Monster Idol

Amai Mask wasn’t always the handsome celebrity we see now. His real name is Beaut (or Buto depending on the translation), and he started out as an ugly man with a strong sense of justice. He became a hero while hiding his face behind a plain mask.

The problem? He absolutely hated how he looked. That self-hatred, combined with his obsession with beauty, actually transformed him into a monster. But here’s what makes him different from other monsters—his willpower and sense of justice let him keep a human appearance on the outside while his body became something completely different underneath.

What His Monster Form Actually Looks Like

When Amai Mask stops holding back, his true form comes out. Veins bulge all over his face and body, his features twist into something feral and terrifying, and his entire presence becomes menacing. It’s the complete opposite of the flawless idol image he projects.

In this state, his power jumps to S-Class level or even higher. His strength, speed, and durability all skyrocket. He can tear through powerful monsters with brutal, casual strikes. Even if he takes severe damage, his regenerative abilities keep him in the fight.

The scariest part? His monster form comes with a “black rage” state where his bloodlust goes through the roof. He becomes extremely violent toward anything he considers “ugly” or evil. The transformation basically removes all his self-imposed limits—the moment he stops suppressing his hatred and fear of exposure, his body fully shifts and his power explodes.

Why He Stays in A-Class Rank 1

People always wondered why someone as strong as Amai Mask never moves up to S-Class. Sure, he says he’s gatekeeping to keep unworthy heroes out, but the real reason is much simpler—he needs to control who gets close enough to figure out what he really is.

His idol career and his position in the Hero Association both serve the same purpose: maintaining the illusion of perfect beauty while hiding his monstrous origin. He’s technically a monster, but he continues acting as a hero because his twisted obsession with beauty is tied up with protecting humanity and destroying what he sees as “ugly evil.”

When the Manga Finally Showed It

The manga (drawn by Yusuke Murata) has been building up to this reveal for a while. Here’s how it played out:

Chapter 174 (late 2022) gave us the first real hint. When Sweet Mask confronted the “Bubbly Boys,” the dialogue and framing made it pretty obvious that he was hiding something monstrous. Readers started putting the pieces together.

After chapter 174, the manga kept foreshadowing throughout 2023 that his full monster form was coming soon. Anyone who read the original webcomic by ONE already knew what was up, but manga-only readers were finally about to see it.

Then came chapters 215–216 in September 2025. This is where it all happened. During the Ferris wheel rescue arc, after meeting with Saitama, Sweet Mask finally transformed completely into his monster form to save civilians trapped on the Ferris wheel. The chapter ended with him standing there in full monster mode.

Chapter 217 (October 2025) dealt with the aftermath. The world started reacting to what they’d just seen, and Saitama got involved. This is where Amai Mask’s nature as a monster-hero got exposed to the public, which is exactly what he’d been afraid of all along.

What Makes Him Different from Other Monsters

Here’s the thing about Amai Mask—he proves that monsters don’t just come from pure evil or malice. Sometimes they come from distorted human ideals. His transformation happened because of self-hatred and an impossible standard of beauty, not because he wanted to hurt people.

Even in his monster form, he’s still fighting for what he believes is right. He’s just doing it with way more violence and way less restraint. His tactical awareness and combat skills are top-tier even when he’s holding back his power. When he lets loose, he’s genuinely terrifying.

Why This Matters for the Story

Amai Mask’s monster form adds another layer to One Punch Man’s themes about what makes someone a hero or a monster. He’s living proof that the line between the two isn’t as clear as the Hero Association wants everyone to believe.

He’s probably the most complex character when it comes to the hero-monster divide. He looks like the perfect hero, acts like a brutal vigilante, and is literally a monster—all at the same time. And somehow, he’s still out there trying to protect people, even if his methods are extreme.

The reveal of his monster form in the manga has been one of the most anticipated moments for webcomic readers, and it didn’t disappoint. Now that it’s out in the open, it’ll be interesting to see how the story handles a hero who everyone knows is actually a monster.